The Best 12v Campervan TV

If you’re planning to travel full time or part time, having a campervan TV can add a lot of comfort on the road. Rainy days happen, and so do sick days. When you’re looking to lay low and get some R&R it can be nice to have some entertainment. 

Campervan TVs come in many different sizes, price ranges and with varying tech.

In this guide:

• Compare 12 campervan TV options
• What features to look for in a van TV
• Buying guide overview

Winner: Best 12v Campervan TV

The best campervan TV is the Feihe 22-inch TV. It can operate on 12v and 110v, making it a flexible option for your camper.

While its weight is comparable to other 12v TVs, the Feihe uses almost half as much energy as similar units.

The Feihe TV is compatible with a streaming stick, and has a high resolution 1080p LED screen and an HDMI port.

Additionally, it can double as a second monitor for working in your van and has built-in speakers and antenna tuners for local stations.

While it is not the absolute least expensive option, it’s still under $200 and only slightly more expensive than its inferior alternatives.

If you require a different size, it’s also available in 15.6 inches and 19 inches.

12 Best Campervan TVs

When buying a campervan TV there are a few additional things to consider that you don’t normally have to think about when buying a regular household TV.

For example, your van is powered by a 12 volt electrical system and a household is powered by a 110 volt system – you’ll want a campervan TV which uses 12 volts so you don’t need to convert your power (requiring an inverter and a loss of ~20% power).

It’s also important to buy a durable TV which can withstand a lot of vibration from the road.

Below are the results of my in-depth research of campervan TVs.

I’ve compared the top 12 best campervan TV options for road life. In full transparency, not all of these products are recommended.

TVs that I don’t recommend are still included in this comprehensive overview along with an explanation as to why they aren’t ideal for van life.

How Can I Watch TV In My Van?

The simplest way to watch TV in your camper van is with your laptop or iPad. This solution is great because you likely already have these items.

Additionally, these devices can stream from services like Hulu and Netflix.

Additionally, they’re highly portable so you can watch TV from anywhere in your van, or even outside.

However, you can’t work on your laptop and watch TV at the same time, so if you’re someone who likes having the TV on in the background this won’t work for you.

A more convenient set up is to install a campervan TV in your RV for van. Some campervan TVs are powered by 12 volts which make them the most energy efficient.

A 12v campervan TV can run directly off of your battery bank without needing an inverter to convert the power to household 110v (losing about 20% of your energy in the process).

Next, you need to consider how you’ll connect to TV networks to view your shows and movies. The easiest way to do this is with an antenna or with a streaming stick connected to a wifi signal.

Antenna Tuner

A TV antenna will allow your campervan TV to pick up network signals and display local channels for free.

The benefit here is that, aside from the cost of the antenna, the service is free.

However, the downside is that you’re limited to live TV, and you may not pick up a signal in more remote locations.

Streaming Stick

A streaming stick allows you to stream shows on-demand from your streaming network subscriptions, like Hulu, Amazon and Netflix.

I like the Firestick by Amazon for streaming. I’ve also used the Roku when visiting family and it’s also a good choice.

The benefit to these is that the device is relatively inexpensive, plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI and USB ports, and allows you to play almost anything you want at any time.

The downside is that streaming devices require a wifi connection, and each streaming network has a monthly subscription fee. 

Personally, the streaming stick is my preferred method, and since I already have a wifi connection in my van it’s easy to stream shows in my campervan.

12v TV Buying Guide

When looking for the best 12v campervan TVs there are a few categories to consider.

Depending on how you plan to use your TV and what your budget is the importance of each of these categories will vary.

Campervan TV Size

How large of a tv screen do you need? The size of your TV is determined by how far away from it you’ll be when viewing the screen. 

If you’re 2-3 feet from the screen, a 25-32 inch TV is recommended. 
If you’re 4-5 feet away from the screen, a 32-42 inch TV is recommended. 
If you’re 6-7 feet away from the screen, a 42-55 inch TV is recommended.

The second consideration in selecting a TV size is the space in which you have to mount it. Of course, vans and RVs don’t have tons of wall space so you may be limited in how large your TV can be based on where you plan to install it.

Campervan TV Durability

Van life can be tough on TVs. There’s constant vibrations, bumps and large charges in the temperature and humidity which can cause damage to the television.

Some TVs are marketed as tougher built units specifically for use in RVs and vans. If you plan to do a lot of off-roading then it may be worth the investment into these types of TVs.

Keep in mind, RV tv’s are typically more expensive than similar sized “normal” tvs. In some cases, it might be worth buying the less expensive option knowing that you may need to replace it more frequently.

There’s no standard of measurement to show that one TV is more or less durable than another, and marketing tends to add a lot of unsubstantiated claims to product messaging.

Campervan TV Power Consumption

Unless you have a massive battery bank you’re probably somewhat conscious of how much electricity your devices are pulling each day.

For that reason you’ll want to make sure you choose a tv for your van or RV that has a lower power consumption.

In general, most TV’s seem to range in wattage from 15-40. TVs at the lower end of the range will be more power efficient than TV’s at the higher end of the range.

Campervan TV Power Source

While you do not need to have a 12v TV, they do come with some benefits – like being more power efficient and not requiring an inverter to convert your 12v battery power into 120v TV power.

Instead, you could use a 120v television and run your inverter to power it. Both options have pros and cons. 

12v TVs are more expensive upfront and don’t require an inverter. 
120v TVs are less expensive upfront but will burn through power more quickly.

Features

How do you plan to use your campervan TV? Do you want integrated features like built-in speakers, a DVD player or antenna tuners? If you require these features your list of options will narrow.

It’s also important to look at screen resolution – 720p or 1080p. While 720p is “good enough”, 1080p will give you a crisper image.

If you plan to use a streaming stick (like Amazon Fire TV) then you’ll need both an HDMI port and a USB port (to power the stick) in your TV.

Since most people mount their TV’s you’ll also want to ensure your TV is compatible with standard mounting devices (VESA is the standard). This is widely accepted and almost every TV on the market is compatible, but it’s always good to check before buying.

Is There A Difference Between A Campervan TV And Regular TV?

Yes! A regular TV is powered with 110v (household) electricity. A campervan TV is powered with 12v (battery) electricity. 

Camper van TVs are typically built to be more robust than regular TVs so they can withstand harsher road conditions like vibration, shock, humidity and temperature changes and dust.

What Size TV Is Best For A Campervan?

The best size TV for a campervan is between 20 and 32 inches. 

If you have a smaller space, or will be sitting closer to the TV, then a 20 inch campervan TV is best. If you have more space for a TV and will be sitting farther away then a 32 inch TV is the best option.

Best 32 Inch TV For Conversion Van

The best 32 inch TV for a conversion van is the Sylvox 32 inch 12v TV. It’s also available in a 32 inch SMART TV.

If you specifically need a 32 inch TV then this is your best option. It has a high resolution 1080p LED screen, uses a modest amount of energy and is fairly lightweight. Plus, it comes with a built-in DVD player.

However, if you’re willing to consider a slightly smaller or larger TV there are better options for less money. SuperSonic offers a 22 inch 12 volt TV for half the price. You could also upgrade to a 40 inch TV for less than the cost of the Sylvox 32 inch.

Replacing TV In Conversion Van

If you’re looking to replace the TV in your conversion van there’s a few things to consider. 

First, how is your existing TV mounted? If it’s a VESA standard mount then you have plenty of options. If it’s something more custom you’ll want to know this before you begin your research.

Second, how much space do you have? If you’re tight on space you want to make sure your replacement TV has similar dimensions so it’ll fit.

Third, what type of power does your current TV use? The easiest swap is with the same power type. If you have a 12v TV you will want to buy a replacement that’s also 12v. Same for if your current tv is a 120v.

How To Mount A Campervan TV

Most TVs come with standard mounting connections. Specifically, these TVs use VESA 100×100. Assuming your TV follows the standard, you’re able to mix and match any mount you’d like that aligns with this standard.

Mounts come with a variety of features, and depending on how you want to use your TV the type of mount you get may vary. Important features to consider are:

Tilt – An up and down motion
Swivel/Pivot – A side to side motion
Angle of Rotation – How far in each direction the device can be moved

Mounting Options

Mounts come in wall or ceiling options. While wall mounts are typically used in residential homes, you might find that a ceiling mount will give you more options for installing your van tv.

Wall Mount

A great wall tv mounting option is this full motion mount. It swivels 360* and can be pulled away from it’s storage against the wall. Additionally, it tilts up and down 20* which can help with anti-glare from the sun or interior lights.

Ceiling Mount

This ceiling TV mount is a great option for a van TV. Not only does it tilt up and down 90*, it also swivels side to side 360* so you can literally watch your tv from anywhere inside your van.

What Is The Best 12V Campervan TV?

In conclusion, while there are many options for 12v campervan TVs, the absolute best value is the Feihe 12 volt TV.

This TV has it all — built-in speakers, is compatible with a streaming stick (like Amazon Fire TV or Roku), has a high resolution 1080p LED screen and has HDMI and USB ports. All for under $200!